The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-07-11
NOVEL SPORT.
Hunting Mathematics on the shores
OF Lake George.

Hunting VnttIcsnnKcs on thc SHORES
OF Lake George.
Perhaps In no part OF the country,
says The albany Journdi, can be found
moro desirable place for the seeker OF
recreation and rest to spend his
vacation than on tho shores OF Lake
George Tho clcarness OF its waters
and wild beauty of its mountain sur
roundings, It's fine atmosphere, and
historic recolloctIons make 1t place OF
more than common interest TO the
tourist. Its facilities for hunting aud
fishing are unsurpassed. There Is one
kind of game that Is hunted with much
zeal by lovers of this sport which Is
seldom mentioned rs IN attraction to
the region. This is tho hunting OF rat
tlesnakes on the mountain lodges and
rocky hillsides every spring. Several
of our oldest residents make trip
each spring, when the weather becomes
warm enough, TO the home Of the
reptiles, of VIII ch there are several
wcl-known dens on tho lake. hr.
Hershel Colvin, of Glens Falls, and
Reuben Ripley. Of Lake George. have
long been noted for their annual rattle
sn ,yie hunts. This year Mr. Colvin re-
turned home much Disguised having
only killed twelve snakes. Their mode
of capturing them IL dangerous, to say
the least. Taking their guns they fro-
coed to the places where the rattlers are
wont to assemble and be ut about among
the rocks until one is discovered. Then
they shoot him. Oftcntimes they APP
pear suddenly to the hunter. Then
| the sensation is not so pleasant
The snakes are hunted for the sport,
but some old hunters have great
faith in their oil which they claim is
very penetrating and a great remedy
for rheumatism The killing off of
large numbers in the spring lessons the
number to wander abroad all around
the lake later in the season, to the an
noyance of cottage campers and hotel
keepers. For rs soon as hot weather
begins the snakes leave their dens and
roam over the surrounding country.
They are great swimmers, and swim
across the lake and make no chloe OF
q landing-place. Those interested
have mon engaged the season through
in killing rattlers. Each morning they
90 out early with pole and poke into
all the places where n snake might be
hidden and kill all they may find. In
some spots u man Is kept on the watch
at oil times for snakes, so that board
srs at hotels rs visitors rarely If ever
see snake. In fact, there Is not an
attendant at hotel on the lake who
can be enticed to own that he ever saw
rattlesnake, to say nothing about
killing one. In spite of all this watch
ing RATHER will manage to get into a
house once in while, aud then there
is music for short time among the
ladies. Old campers on the lake who
have visited it for years can seldom be
forced TO admit that there are many
snakes there unless they may be in
weighed into telling snake stories, then
one gets an idea OF snakes. Two spe-
cies of rattlcsnake exist there. but rs
rule they will trouble no one if not dis
turbcd. No cases of anybody being
bitten by n snake is recorded unless he
was engaged in hunting them or had
invaded their dens. An old snake
hunter several years ago became so
careless that in trying to capture Que
he undertook to catch the snake by the
tail as he slipped under stone, and
was bitten. Not enough whisky could
be got into him. and he never hunted
any moro rattlesnakes. Most expert
enced campers keep a supply OF snake
root and whisky on hand in case it
should be needed.